That thought sobers me and I freeze for a second, but it's long enough for Alec to notice. He pulls back and looks in my eyes.
''Princess?'' he says uncertainly.
I press my fingers to my lips and stand up, turning away from him. He stands and grips my arm.
''What are you running from now, Princess? What are you so afraid of?'' he asks me softly.
''I don't know.''
''You're lying. Tell me.''
''You want to know? Really?'' I turn and meet his eyes. ''Maybe I'm afraid to admit to you just how much I'm falling for you. Maybe I'm still scared of getting hurt. Maybe this.. kissing you... Maybe that makes it real.''
''Princess,'' he murmurs and cups my chin, bringing my face close to his. In his eyes I see a swarm of emotions. It's like he's stripped bare, he's stripped away everything everyone sees just to show me the truth. Just like I always wanted.
''Maybe you don't need to be afraid,'' he says in a gentle tone.
''You know a summer romance wasn't what what I signed up for when we came down here,'' I whisper.
"Lexy, you're not listening to me."
"I am."
"No, you're not." Amusement laces his tone and he slides his other arm around my waist, holding me in place. I'm trapped. Trapped in the one place I want to be.
"Maybe you don't need to be afraid," he repeats, "because maybe I'm falling for you too."
I know my eyes show I'm slightly sceptical. For him to fall for someone is about as likely as pigs growing wings and migrating to a warmer climate during the winter months.
"You still don't believe me." He sighs. "Do you think I would have kissed you like that just now if I didn't feel anything for you, Princess? Really?"
I can't deny that. The feelings he evoked in me during that kiss were unlike anything I've ever felt.
"I guess not," I mumble, reluctantly.
''Do you really think I would have spent every spare second of the last three weeks with you if I didn't care? Would I have made your birthday as special as it was if this was just a game? Do you think I would have lain awake at night thinking of how I could make you trust me?
"Princess," he whispers when I cast my eyes downwards. "Look at me."
I close my eyes and shake my head.
A summer romance wasn't in my plan. But that all changed the second Alec walked into my life. When I met him.. A summer romance became everything I wanted.
The next thing I feel is his lips pressing against mine for the second time. He pushes his hand through my hair and cups the back of my head. I can only kiss him back.
It's like he's wired in my DNA, and despite my head telling me to step away, my heart has taken over and it's all I can do to stay standing.
My arms go round his neck of their own accord and my fingers tangle in the ends of his hair.
"Believe me yet?" he murmurs against my lips. I nod and press myself up against him, claiming his lips once more.
He kisses me a few more times then pulls back. His smile reaches his eyes, and there's a spark in them I've never seen before. I can't help but smile back at him. He moves his head forward and runs the tip of his nose down the length of mine before kissing me once more.
"Don't run from me, Lexy,” he whispers, trailing kisses along my jaw and up to my earlobe. "Because I'll always follow you."
"Can I hide then?" I tease, leaning my cheek against his.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I'll always come and find you, that's why." He pulls back and looks into my eyes. "Tell me you won't run anymore."
His eyes are entrancing. The swirling mass of blue grey is mesmerising, and I know I couldn't run even if I wanted to.
"I won't run anymore."
"Promise?" He strokes my hair away from my face.
I put a hand on his cheek. "I promise."
He smiles at me again and I look down. He's looking at me like-
"You're beautiful," he whispers, kissing my nose.
Yeah, like I'm beautiful.
ALEC
I look into her brown eyes and see all I'll ever need.
She's mine.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ALEXIS
Alec sits back against the rock and pulls me down with him. I hook my legs over his and rest my head against his shoulder, curled up against him. His arms are wrapped around my body, holding me tightly. I snuggle a little closer into him and he sighs.
''What?'' I tilt my head back.
''You.'' He looks down at me and smiles.
''What about me?''
''Just.. You.''
I smile and peck him on the lips.
''Call that a kiss?'' He growls playfully.
I nod and lean back. He leans forward until I'm lying on my back and he's suspended over me.
''This is a kiss,'' he says and presses his lips against mine. I cup his head with my hands and pull him closer to me. Will I ever have enough of him? One kiss and I can't seem to stop.
''Mmm,'' he murmurs. ''That's more like it.''
I grin at him and rest my fingertip against where his dimple is.
''I love your dimples.''
''You do?'' He raises an eyebrow at me.
''Mmhmm,'' I stroke his jaw. ''I noticed them the first time I saw you.''
''Oh, so it's the dimples you're after?'' He teases.
''Completely.'' I reply, straight faced.
He tuts and shakes his head. ''Washboard abs, gorgeous eyes, sexy hair, and she wants the dimples? What is the world coming to?''
I slap his shoulder and giggle. ''You forgot your charming personality.''
He thumps the sand. ''How could I forget that?''
''God knows, your ego is big enough.'' I kiss his cheek.
''Oi.'' He frowns at me. ''Just because you're mine doesn't mean you can be mean to me!''
''Oh, I'm yours, am I?'' It's my turn to raise an eyebrow.
''No doubt about it.'' He kisses me again.
''Again with the caveman,'' I mutter.
''Your caveman,'' he chuckles.
Alec brushes my hair away from my face and looks into my eyes.
He might not have been what I expected when I came to Lilac Bay, or even what I was expecting when I met him, but he's nothing less than I want.
Opposites. A city girl and a small town boy. Dirty jeans and designer jeans. Surfing and shopping.
We couldn't be more different, but that doesn't matter anymore.
He drops down next to me and we lie there together, listening to the waves crash up the beach. The world could be ending and I wouldn't care because I was with him.
"Oh yay!" I hear Jen shriek.
"Way to ruin their moment, Jen!" Carl calls after her. I turn my head and see her running down the beach towards us, Carl shaking his head as he walks behind her.
"Oh, shush you. Just because you're as romantic as a teaspoon!" she hollers back.